The Premier League’s recent spate of cancellations will have no impact on suspensions relating to the accumulation of yellow cards, with the window for tallies to be refreshed based on games played by a club rather than a date in the calendar.
After six of last weekend’s games were called off due to coronavirus outbreaks and league bosses believe more are likely over the festive period there had been questions raised around the regulations.
But the league’s rulebook is clear.
It says: “Any player earning five bookings from their side’s first 19 Premier League matches will serve a one-match ban in the same competition. Yellow cards are not carried over to the EFL Cup or FA Cup.
“Players who accumulate 10 yellow cards in Premier League matches up to and including their team’s 32nd fixture will serve a two-match suspension in the competition.”.
Forty players are currently one game from a ban but whereas Chelsea’s Reece James has one game to get through before his total is refreshed, Tottenham Hotspur’s Emerson Royal and Harry Kane have four games to navigate without picking up two. (Cristian Romero is one yellow away but out injured)
Arsenal’s Albert Sambi Lokonga is one caution from a ban but is set to miss their 19th game of the campaign owing to a positive coronavirus test.
Brentford defensive midfielder Christian Norgaard is one booking away from a suspension and has three games to play, while Crystal Palace star Conor Gallagher has to be careful in the next two matches.
West Ham United’s Declan Rice has got four bookings and two fixtures to go following the cancellation of last Saturday’s home game against Norwich City.